Households have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Chittenden, used by 99,824 or 35% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Chittenden families is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The rest of the homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).

Chittenden County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	480,541	485,335	296,788	1,124,831	363,771	6,367	53,622
2024	525,339	541,487	281,663	1,194,240	390,230	10,505	55,890
2023	565,458	592,486	267,778	1,265,690	413,695	14,330	57,918
2022	575,801	593,026	243,127	1,295,908	422,017	14,027	57,892
2021	572,255	573,306	211,982	1,304,480	427,348	11,897	54,200
2020	562,108	559,598	192,907	1,318,761	443,542	10,156	51,354
2019	559,721	539,955	179,320	1,318,734	464,683	8,031	52,491
2018	558,185	516,030	163,650	1,318,232	487,923	6,339	52,536
2017	548,232	496,993	153,079	1,331,384	507,237	5,158	50,752
2016	535,701	482,456	151,588	1,334,232	520,732	4,047	48,627
2015	517,682	471,762	146,165	1,358,993	526,621	2,908	46,202
2014	502,926	462,537	143,933	1,395,344	520,718	2,222	44,143
2013	493,466	458,792	143,841	1,421,570	508,393	2,007	41,570
2012	480,071	456,076	141,399	1,462,679	487,143	1,906	39,017
2011	467,382	453,717	137,337	1,516,373	454,955	1,619	34,724
2010	460,645	454,758	132,963	1,572,011	418,630	1,461	29,778

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Chittenden

Heating oil has become less popular in Chittenden. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of households using heating oil dropped from 108,532 to 99,824, a 8% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chittenden

Between 2015 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 40,280 to 57,954, a 44% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 45,256 to 55,373, a 22% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Chittenden

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Chittenden. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 12,610 to 36,366, a 188% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Chittenden

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Currently, 1,820 homes in Chittenden are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 592% gain from 2015, when 263 homes utilized active solar heating.

Chittenden County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Chittenden County homeowners purchased a total of 9 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Chittenden’s overall number two heating oil use fluctuates yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Chittenden was 20.3°F, which was 0.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Chittenden County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	20.7° F
2023 - 2024	22° F

Chittenden County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Chittenden families heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 23 heating oil companies that serve Chittenden makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Chittenden. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Chittenden cash heating oil companies serving Chittenden include Robinson's Inc and All Star Fuels LLC.

Chittenden Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Chittenden: 23 companies .
Average Number of Chittenden Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 5676

Chittenden Heating Oil Delivery Overview

99,824 houses in Chittenden heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Chittenden temperatures drop as low as 20° F each winter. 17% of Chittenden families are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.

19.02% of Chittenden County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Chittenden County Households	Chittenden County Heating Oil Households
686,333	130,548

286 Chittenden Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 92,108,924.062 gallons of oil delivered to Chittenden residences during this past winter, the Chittenden community looks to its 286 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Chittenden, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Chittenden and the surrounding region.

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